Trending Tags

Sex Sells: Carl's Jr.

By Playboy.com StaffApril 1, 2013

Share

<p>Carl's Jr has been selling two things as of late: sex and cheeseburgers. And who can complain about that. </p>

Advertising is a business of adages. “Buy
for a dollar. Sell for two.” “Forget the facts. What matters is what the
consumer believes.” But none rings more true in today’s oversaturated visual
markets than the holy grail of hype: “Sex Sells.”

It’s a maxim that’s been around since
Maximus, but it’s never been more true than in the age of viral videos, Photoshop,
free pornography and MTV. Sex Sells just about everything these days, from film
careers to exfoliating products, cars to clothes, smart phones, Super Bowls;
shit, in the case of PETA it sells ideals (just ask Pam Anderson or Olivia Munn). But in the case of our first poster child for this feature, sex also
sells…

Cheeseburgers.

Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. are at it again. After
launching their revamped, hypersexual campaign to sell calories and carbs with
the likes of Padma Lakshmi and Kate Upton, they doubled down on the good stuff
with a follow-up featuring our very own Sara Jean Underwood. Then came Nina
Agdal taking her top off on some secluded beach, and now they’ve got none other
than Heidi Klum as “Mrs. Robinson” selling the Jim Beam Bourbon Thickburger.

It kind of makes sense. With so many fast
food options available to us, we typically need a reason to go out of our way
to eat at any given one. And these commercials certainly offer that.